October 22nd, 2013

10/22/13

In Class:
Journal--  How do you define your heritage? Where do you come from? Is heritage important?

Continued lecture and discussion on the evolution of the English language:
How does language and its evolution reflect cultural variety?

Reviewed the Proto-Indo-European Language origin diagram: Where does English originate? To which contemporary languages is English most closely related?

Screened "The History of English in Ten Minutes" from 0:00-2:19 (Ch. 1 & 2), then noted primary important dates and facts:
c. 450 -- Romans (who spoke a form of Latin) were forced out of the British Isles by the Britons
c. 480 -- Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) settled in/invaded/colonized Britain
[German influence on English]
     c. 500-550 -- Beowulf takes place.
c. 590 -- Missionaries from mainland Europe bring Christianity and associated ideas and language to Britain 
[Latin influence on English]
700-1000 -- Frequent Viking invasions
[Norse influence on English]
     c. 975 -- Beowulf is transcribed.
1066 -- Norman Conquest of England. The Normans were relocated Vikings who spoke French and followed French cultural ideals. This invasion was very influential because it introduced about 70% of our Modern English vocabulary.
[French influence on English]
Following the Norman Conquest, French and Latinate words were perceived as the language of nobility, wealth, and elegance; meanwhile, English and Germanic words were considered utilitarian, of the commoners and peasants.

Guided by notes from the instructor, students illustrated their own maps of linguistic/cultural influence in Britain, similar to the graphic to the left.

Next, each student created a 3 or more panel comic strip illustrating the influence of various invasive cultures as discussed during the lesson today.

Exit Ticket: Name the three Germanic tribes which colonized England.

Homework:
Finish your comic strip.
Read "The Wanderer" and underline at least 5 words you do not recognize.